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Murphy Bros. Designers & Remodelers has been named a 2013 Contractor of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The firm took top honors in the Kitchens over $120,000 category for a remodeling project it completed this year at the Eden Prairie home of John Dockter and Cindy Vavra.

Company President John Murphy, Design Consultant Cherie Poissant and Production Coordinator Aaron Lenz accepted the award on Nov. 15 at the packed 17th Annual Awards Dinner held at the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

Five panels of judges from the neighboring Wisconsin NARI chapter evaluated a total of 82 entries in 22 categories for the Minnesota competition. Each project was scored on six criteria:

Enhanced functionality

Enhanced aesthetics

Superior craftsmanship

Innovative materials or construction methods

Overcoming difficult obstacles

Meeting the client’s expressed objectives

Murphy Bros. transformed the dark, dated Eden Prairie kitchen by removing two walls and annexing a porch. This enlarged the space for entertaining, poured in natural light and revealed the beautiful backyard view. A multi-height, wrap around counter features two seating areas for family dinners and parties, while a stunning coffered ceiling, custom tile and cabinetry and premium appliances define the workspace. Murphy Bros. also built an extraordinary lower level wine room at the residence and remodeled the master bathroom. Murphy Bros. beat John Kraemer and Sons, Ohana Construction and Schrader & Companies for the “Best Residential Kitchen over $120,000” award.

John Murphy, Cherie Poissant and Aaron Lenz with 2013 Contractor of the Year award.

“John and Cindy were terrific clients who inspired us to do some of our best work,” Murphy said. He also credited Design Consultant Cherie Poissant, Lead Carpenter Shawn Ilstrup, Vetter’s Electric, Rial Bros. Tile and Samuelson Cabinetry for their outstanding contributions to the project.

We know our homes so well, we might imagine we understand exactly how to make them better. But this familiarity can just as easily limit our vision. It’s hard to think outside the box when it’s packed with so many memories and habits.

Some designers may have their own narrow views as well. For instance, you can count on Read More »

Lynn Geadelmann wanted a brighter, more open home that would be better suited to entertaining and integrated with the outdoors. Rather than move from her long-time Roseville neighborhood near her tennis club, she recruited Murphy Bros. to transform the place with a series of projects that spanned nearly six years. Today, she proclaims with satisfaction, “I don’t think there’s anything left for them to do.”

One project flowed into the next, including new siding and windows, a kitchen addition, wood flooring, a new bathroom , a family room and a playroom for her grandchildren. A stunning window wall forms the gable end of the new kitchen to embrace the landscaping and wash the stone counters and custom cabinets with natural light. However the lower level family room features a tot-height closet that keeps grandkids’ toys neatly tucked away between visits.

Lynn credits Murphy Bros. with recommending smart design solutions that she could not have conceived on her own. “Some of the things cost more, but they were worth it,” she said. One was the frameless glass shower door in the lower bath. “It really shows off the nice tile,” she said.

Lynn recommends Murphy Bros to fellow seniors who prefer to adapt their homes rather than to move, but she admits she may be biased. “After all of these projects, John (Murphy) is like family,” she explained.

With the shift to more indoor activities and planning holiday gatherings, we asked Murphy Bros. designer Cherie Poissant what she considers when designing kitchens for clients who love to entertain. Here’s what she said:

Murphy Bros Designer Cherie Poissant

FLOOR PLANIt is important to listen to each client’s individual needs and their current challenges when designing their new space. For a kitchen, I inquire as to how many people they typically entertain and want to understand how they facilitate that (Casual buffet style? Plated dinners?). Do they want to keep people out of their kitchen when they cook or do they enjoy cooking in front of people? There are many things that I consider when Read More »

Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath and pledge to do no harm as they care for patients. Murphy Bros. takes a similar approach with remodeling. Although we don’t wear white coats, we think of ourselves as house doctors and will go to great lengths to keep you and your home healthy, safe Read More »